System for maintaining person&#39;s medical history in portable memory device

ABSTRACT

A system includes a portable, hand carried nonvolatile memory device in which a person maintains his or her medical history. The portable memory device includes a program, executable by a general computer, for storing medical records in a secure database in the portable memory device, updating the medical records in the secure database, and providing access to the medical records in the secure database. The system further includes a method for recovering that person&#39;s medical history in the event of loss, destruction, or damage of the device, including the steps of: maintaining a backup copy of the secure database externally to the device, which backup copy is accessible via the Internet computer; accessing the backup copy via the Internet; copying the accessed backup copy to a replacement device, which replacement device also includes the program or an updated version of the program.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. continuation-in-part patentapplication of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to, U.S.nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 10/605,127, filed Sep. 10,2003, which nonprovisional patent application is incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a secure portable device for storing andaccessing patient records.

Accurate, accessible and shareable health information is a well acceptedprerequisite of good healthcare. Patient safety, public safety,continuity of patient care, healthcare economics, clinical research andoutcomes analysis are adversely affected by the reduced quality ofhealth information available. The prior art has attempted to solve theseproblems in the healthcare field in not entirely satisfactory ways. Thefollowing patents are illustrative of the prior art attempts at medicalrecord storage.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,832,488 to Eberhardt discloses a computer system andmethod for programming data of an individual's medical histories on astorage device. The programs are designed to record information on smartcards such as patient identifier and a running medical history pluspharmaceutical information. U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,690 to Reeves disclosesan electronic storage memory card of a particular type which is capableof having digital binary data stored within its surface and which iseasily carried on a person in a wallet or purse.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,731,629 to Woodward discloses a personal data storagedevice for storing information such as medical records and a system forstoring and reading such information from the storage device.

Also of some interest are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,932,759 and 5,825,882 andpatent publications 2002/0128856 and 2002/0120470.

Recently, an attempt was made to embed a 32 k chip beneath a person'sskin with patient information that was uploaded to the chip. Thesignificant disadvantage to this format was that it required surgerywith a cost factor and the information on the chip was limited.Furthermore, since the filing of the parent patent application (Ser. No.10/605,127) of this patent application, additional solutions have beenproposed such as those presented in published Canadian PatentApplication Serial No. 2,545,131, which patent reference is incorporatedherein by reference.

The unique device of this invention is not disclosed or suggested in theprior art and provides a novel solution to medical record problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises a portable, secure, self-contained memorydevice that in combination with MyRECS™ copyrighted software is designedto store, update and display personal medical information. The MyRECS™device is a small hand carried device which is connectible to the USBport of a computer or reader adapter. Access to the medical informationis provided by a unique password. Medical information stored in thedevice cannot be deleted or changed—it can only be appended.

The MyRECS™ device stores personal information, emergency contactinformation along with reports, referral letters, images, medications,immunizations, medical conditions, allergies, surgeries, medical alerts,and any other pertinent information required to treat a personcorrectly. Each device is registered to a particular individual and theinformation is kept in a secure encrypted database. In an emergency, ifthe user is incapacitated, an 800 phone number may be used to unlock thedevice and view the information.

Accordingly an object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedsmall, portable memory device for storing medical records.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedportable, secure, self-contained memory device that functions withsoftware to store, update and display personal medical information.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedportable storage device for medical records which is accessed by aunique password but may be unlocked in emergencies through a customerservice center.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved small portable memory device to store, update, and accuratelydisplay personal medical information using a password which informationcannot be deleted, only appended and which may be inputted by scanning,keying or downloading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects of this invention may be more clearly seenwhen viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing aspects and features of anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an environment in which an implementation of anembodiment of the invention is used.

FIG. 3 illustrates a small portable memory device, USB extender cable,and CD-ROM in accordance with an implementation of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b and 4 c each respectively illustrate a screenshot inaccordance with an implementation of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with an implementation of a commercial embodiment of theinvention, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, a small, portable, hand carrieddevice 10 is provided that is marketed under the brand MyRECS™ by LMGMarketing and Development Corporation of Ramsey, N.J. The device 10includes a USB connector at one end and a removable cap that covers theUSB connector when the device 10 is not in use.

As further shown in FIG. 3, a USB extender cable 14 and a business cardsize CD-ROM 15 are also provided. The CD-ROM contains WIN 98 drivers forcomputer systems with operating systems that are not WINDOW 2000 or XP.The device 10 includes software 11 that is designed to store, compile,update and display a person's medical history. The information is keptin a secure encrypted database. In alternative embodiments, the small,portable, hand carried device can be any nonvolatile memory device suchas a USB drive, memory stick, digital card and flash memory card that isread through a standard memory card reader. HIPAA compliant software mayalso be included.

The MyRECS™ device 10 is plugged into the USB port 16 of any PC basedcomputer 17 and the medical history of the owner is immediatelyavailable and viewable. From the patient's perspective, the device 10 istotally portable and can hold up to 48,000 pages or 120 images, or anycombination thereof. The capacity of the memory device is only limitedby the size of the USB drive. For example, it is believed that 64 MB ofmemory provides storage for 96,000 pages and 240 images, and 128 MB ofmemory provides storage for 192,000 pages and 440 images. Thiseliminates bulky files and folders.

From the doctor's perspective, the MyRECS™ device 10 will allow anydoctor, anywhere, to have all a patient's pertinent medical historyavailable immediately with the patent's permission. This device 10provides information such as name, address, phone, emergency contact,primary physician contact, medical alerts, allergies, medicalconditions, medications (active/inactive), immunizations, blood type,surgeries, medical history, treatments, etc.

Significant advantages to having such patient information readilyavailable to the medical community and insurance companies may include:

-   -   A) Increases in proper initial diagnosis of patients.    -   B) Reductions in ordering of expensive medical tests.    -   C) The prescribing of medications and dosages which are more        precise and specific to the patient's medical condition.    -   D) Reductions in unnecessary admissions to hospitals.    -   E) Reductions in patient deaths and complications due to medical        errors.

In summary, the MyRECS™ device 10 is a small, portable, hand carried,secure, self-contained memory device that, in combination with softwarestored therein, is designed to store, compile, update and display aperson's medical history. Healthcare providers may access this storedmedical information only when given a unique password by the patient.Medical information stored in the device 10 cannot be deleted orchanged. It can only be appended. Reports show added information, whichare date and time stamped, and also show the name of the party addingthe information. It is believed that the device meets all legal privacyrequirements.

The combination of software and hardware makes this device unique. Thedevice 10 is self-contained with the only exception of a computer with aUSB port needed to view the information stored in the database on thedevice 10. No website or external database is required to store andretrieve information. Information can be put on the device 10 by directinput from a keyboard into the MyRECS™ software program 11. Informationcan also be scanned directly to the device 10 and input from a computeron the device 10.

Information can be imported from over twenty-five file types fromvarious file formats and saved on the device 10 which can then be readby software 11 and viewed. The device 10 thus and has the capability tointegrate with various and numerous medical software applications.Information can be transferred from a file on a computer to the device10 and read. Further, information stored on the device 10 can also becopied to a patient's medical record at a physician's office or hospitalreducing the chance of human error in recreating the information. Theinformation can be created in any word processing program orspreadsheets such as Microsoft Office or Word Perfect or any text basedor graphic application and copied and pasted to the software 11 or savedas a file and copied to the device 10 or from EMR software.

The patient's medical record may also be stored in a secured secondarysite that will also permit a patient to reload their information in theevent their device 10 is lost, destroyed, damaged or a larger memorydevice 10 is required. The backup would be provided by a Data RecoveryCenter (DRC).

As represented in FIG. 1, the MyRECS™ device 10 is disposed inelectronic communication with computer 17 via a USB port of the computer17. A patient I.D. or pass code 21 is supplied to the software 11. Inputdata 22 may be scanned, keyed or downloaded into the MyRECS™ software11. Patient information 23, allergies 24, medications 25, surgeries 26,immunizations 27, medical alerts 28, conditions 29, insurance 30,physicians 31, office visits 32, and past history 33 are typical entriesto the computer 17 and associated software 11. If desired, a quickreport 34 or complete report 36 may be printed or viewed on the screenof computer 17.

FIG. 2 illustrates an environment in which the device 10 may be used.The MyRECS™ device 10 both provides and receives information from thecomputer 17. The computer 17 may also feed information to the printer36. Coupled to the computer 17 are a handheld computer 38, a scanner 39,a keyboard 40, data 41 and removable storage 42.

While the invention has been explained by a detailed description ofcertain specific embodiments, it is understood that variousmodifications and substitutions can be made in any of them within thescope of the appended claims, which are intended also to includeequivalents of such embodiments.

1. In a system in which a person maintains his or her medical history ina portable, hand carried nonvolatile memory device comprisingmachine-readable memory having machine-executable instructionsconstituting a program executable by a general computer for (i) storingmedical records in a secure database in the machine-readable memory ofthe portable, hand carried memory device, (ii) updating the medicalrecords in the secure database in the machine-readable memory of theportable, hand carried memory device, and (iii) providing access to themedical records in the secure database in the machine-readable memory ofthe portable, hand carried memory device, a method for recovering thatperson's medical history in the event of loss, destruction, or damage ofthe device, the method comprising the steps of: (a) maintaining a backupcopy of the secure database externally to the device, which backup copyis accessible via the Internet computer; (b) accessing the backup copyvia the Internet; (c) copying the accessed backup copy to a replacementdevice, which replacement device includes a program executable by ageneral computer for (i) storing medical records in a secure database inthe machine-readable memory of the portable, hand carried memory device,(ii) updating the medical records in the secure database in themachine-readable memory of the portable, hand carried memory device, and(iii) providing access to the medical records in the secure database inthe machine-readable memory of the portable, hand carried memory device;(d) wherein said steps (b) and (c) are performed using a generalcomputer.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the person—whose medicalhistory is recorded, updated, and accessed—carries the replacementdevice on his or her person.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein thesecure database and the backup copy of the secure database is encrypted.4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the secure database and thebackup copy of the secure database includes information pertinent to thetreatment of the person, comprising: (a) personal information includingname, address, phone, and emergency contact information; (b) emergencymedical information including medical alerts, blood type, allergies (c)current medical information including primary physician contact, medicalconditions, medications, and treatments; (d) historical medicalinformation including a log of medical office visits, physicians, imagesfrom medical scans, a log of vital statistics, immunizations, andsurgeries; and (e) insurance information including referral letters. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a USB memory device,a flash memory device, or a memory stick; and wherein the replacementdevice comprises a USB memory device, a flash memory device, or a memorystick.